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Google Maps, Facebook come to Samsung TVs & Blu-ray players

We still don't know if Samsung will put Google's Android into its TVs, but it has recently launched Google Maps and Facebook as a part of its existing Samsung Apps platform. There aren't a lot of details in the press release (included after the break) but buyers of most of the 2010 line HDTVs, Blu-ray players and HTIB systems should have access to them. We've seen demos of how Samsung Apps can tie phones and TVs together easily, but can a mere Google Maps app match the Google TVs ability to push info back and forth from device to device? The Facebook app on Xbox 360 is moderately useful if only as a way to browse photo albums on the HDTV, so we'll also be waiting to find out if it will at least match that functionality.

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Samsung Adds Social Features and Location Based Services to Samsung Apps with Availability of Facebook and Google Maps Applications

New Applications Showcase Versatility of Samsung Apps Platform

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced continued momentum in connected TV with the introduction of Facebook® and Google Maps to Samsung Apps, the world's first HDTV-based application store, where users can download apps directly from all 2010 Samsung Blu-ray Players, Blu-ray Home Theater systems, and the majority of Samsung TVs with screen sizes 40 inches and larger.

"The addition of Google Maps and Facebook to Samsung Apps shows our commitment to providing quality content and applications across multiple devices and expanding the connected TV experience for our consumers," said Eric Anderson, vice president of content and product solutions, Samsung Electronics America. "Now, users can enjoy leading location-based and social services directly on their connected TV, Blu-ray player, or Blu-ray Home Theater system."

Samsung, which holds the #1 market share in connected TV, continues to expand the types of experiences available to consumers through Internet-connected TVs. In 2008, the company was the first to deliver text-based RSS feeds via its InfoLink feature, bringing news, weather and stock information directly to televisions for the first time. In 2009, the company added video to the connected TV experience, with the addition of providers like Blockbuster and Amazon video-on-demand that allow users to stream movies and TV shows directly to their TV. This year, Samsung introduced the robust Samsung Apps platform, which features applications that include text-based information, casual games, and full HD video. Now, with the addition of Facebook and Google Maps, Samsung Apps adds social and location-based services, showing the flexibility of the platform to meet a growing variety of consumer interests.

"We created Samsung Apps so that content creators can develop applications that can be experienced on big-screen TVs," continued Anderson. "We're excited to launch integrations with Google and Facebook to bring new connected experiences to the Samsung Apps platform."

With Samsung Apps, content creators use common web standards like Javascript and XML to develop their applications. Since the platform uses a single Software Development Kit for Apps that runs on HDTVs, Blu-ray players and Blu-ray Home Theater systems, developers can write once and then deploy the app across multiple platforms. Since Samsung is the market leader in connected TV and connected Blu-ray, content creators and developers get access to a large and growing community of users. The addition of Facebook and Google Maps apps shows the flexibility of the platform to meet the growing content demands of consumers. These services join more than 30 other partners including Blockbuster, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, USA TODAY, and Vudu, in bringing personalized, easy to use connected TV experiences to consumers.

For more information on Samsung Apps, please visit http://www.samsung.com/newsroom.